Request Registration/Absentee Ballot

You may not need to fill out this entire form. Check out the instructions below to see what information your state requires.

Open Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request

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What do I fill in?

Only the following blocks are required:

Block 1: Select the category that describes you.

Block 2.a: Name (Last, First, Middle); Block 2.e: Date of Birth

Blocks 2.f and 2.g: Your valid Texas Driver's License number or personal identification number issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety is required for voter registration. If you do not have either of these numbers, you must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not possess any of these identification numbers, you must state that in Block 6.

Block 3.a through 3.e: Complete street address of your Texas voting residence. A post office box is not sufficient. If your address includes a rural route, describe its location in Block 6. This address must be different from the one provided in Block 4 and must be within the county where you claim legal voting residence.

Block 4.a: Complete address where you want your ballot sent – usually your current mailing address. It must be different from the address you provided in Block 3.

Block 4.c: Texas does not allow you to receive your ballot by fax or email.

Block 5: Enter your political party affiliation or write "none" if you want to vote in primary elections. Political party affiliation is not required if only requesting absentee ballots for general elections. If you want to change your political party affiliation, submit a completed Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form indicating your new party preference to the local election official.

Block 6: Submission of this form serves as a request to receive ballots for all Federal elections held through the next two regularly scheduled general elections. If you do not wish to receive ballots for that length of time, you may request a ballot for each election for Federal office held in the next election year OR a ballot for only the next scheduled election for Federal office by noting your choice here. A State Write-In Absentee Ballot is available, see Step 3 for details. Provide any additional comments for your election official here.

Block 7: Sign and date. No notary/witness required.

Mail

You must mail your Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request to a specific election official. Find your county or city in the list below to locate your election official.

Open Election Official Address List

Don't know your county? Go to the county finder.

Don't know your zip code? Go to the United States Postal Service website.

Optional: You may be able to use the Postage-Paid Envelope Template.

Open Postage-Paid Envelope Template

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The postage paid envelope may be used if mailed in the U.S. Postal System, which includes all U.S. Military post offices (APO/FPO) overseas or through the diplomatic pouch available at U.S. embassies/consulates. Affix appropriate postage if using international mail. Template must be printed on a number 10 or larger envelope.

If you choose to fax, you MUST also sign and mail your request

Fax

If you choose to fax, it is recommended that you fax the form directly to your local election official (fax numbers can be found on Texas Election website). You may also use our toll-free fax service:

Inside the U.S.? Fax to:
1-800-368-8683
(703)-693-5527
DSN 223-5527

Outside the U.S.? Show me a list of toll-free fax numbers.

Open Fax Coversheet

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• Check the "Important Dates" section at the top of this page for registration, ballot request, and voted ballot return deadlines.
• Want to return your voted ballot by fax? Texas allows you to return the voted ballot by fax if you are a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty overseas, or the spouse or dependent of the member, and you are casting the ballot from an area in which members of the Armed Forces are eligible to receive hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay, or that has been designated by the President of the U.S. as a combat zone. See Step 2 for instructions.
• To register temporarily and request an absentee ballot send a completed Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form to your local election official no later than the 20th day before the election. If the 20th day before the election is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday submit form by the next business day. If you submit this form between the 19th and the 7th day before the election and you are not permanently registered, you will receive a ballot for Federal offices only.
• To register permanently, state in Block 6 of the Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form that you would like to receive Texas voter registration form. Complete the Texas voter registration form and return it to your local election official postmarked no later than 30 days before the election.
• If you have not received your absentee ballot in a timely manner use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot.
• In addition to mailing a regular ballot, Texas provides a State Write-In Absentee Ballot to any voter unable to vote in the regular absentee voting process due to military contingencies. You must request this ballot 180 or less days before the election. If you submitted a Voter Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form more than 180 days before the election, you must make another request for the special state write-in ballot. To request it, write in Block 6: "Special State Write-In Ballot."